The Yomiuri Giants apparently received an unspecified number of complaints and harsh criticisms over the phone and via e-mail. A team official spoke to reporters after workouts at Tokyo Dome on Friday and said, "We have received a lot of feedback, including some that were very harsh, via telephone and e-mail. We are informing them that we only followed the umpire's judgement and that we hope they can understand."

The umpiring crew did not show up at Tokyo Dome.

The Fighters have received supportive feedback from fans. Some have asked that they file a protest with the NPB, but the organization does not have any plans for that at the time being.

And according to Sanspo, the NPB also reportedly received an unspecified number of complaints over the phone. Sponichi, on the other hand, mentions that the NPB received no complaints over the phone.

Kazuhito Tadano (HAM) was tossed after he threw a pitch up and in at Ken Kato (YOM) in the 4th inning. Kato fell backward as his helmet flew off. He was given first base and Tadano was tossed for throwing a dangerous pitch.

Nippon Ham Fighters' manager Hideki Kuriyama rushed onto the field in attempt to get the call reversed, but failed. He gave up the argument because he did not want to be tossed for a delay of game (one of the umpires came over to him to let him know he was getting close to the time limit).

Home plate umpire Koichi Yanada later told reporters that he judged the ball as hitting Kato's helmet. Source: Sanspo 11/1/2012

Fans at Sapporo Dome booed Kato during his next at bat in the 5th inning. It did little to rattle him as he hit a two-run double to left.

Not sure how long they will be up, but there are a few vids over at YouTube.

Kato on the play: "I was so absorbed in the moment, I had no idea what was going on. I saw [the ball] come near my face... I was hit in the head once before. I felt like I did not know what was going on." Source: Sanspo 11/2/2012

When the umpire explained why he made the call as he did, Kuriyama was not satisfied with the answer and continued to ask "What exactly did you see?" When reporters later ask what the umpire said, he replied, "I cannot say. Just that his opinion and the opinion of the people in our dugout was different, so I asked him what he saw. If he had just said he saw the ball hit him, then I would have walked away. But he said something else so..."

Kuriyama also apologized for the disruption, but not necessarily for arguing a call he was not satisfied with.